Manchester United have made Benfica midfielder Nicolás Gaitán a target for the
January transfer window, but will have to meet a £40 million release clause
to sign him.

Gaitán, who impressed during United’s 1-1 draw against the Portuguese club in a Champions Leaguegroup fixture last month, has been watched repeatedly by Sir Alex Ferguson’s European scouting team in recent months.

As a result of interest from United, Inter Milan and Paris St Germain, Benfica have secured the 23 year-old to a five-year contract this week, which will see the Argentine more than double his annual salary to £2 million.

But despite increasing Gaitán’s wages, Benfica have been unable to increase the release clause within the player’s contract beyond the existing £40 million trigger fee.

United, who are also monitoring Anderlecht’s Argentine midfielder Lucas Biglia, remain in the market for an attacking midfielder after failing in summer attempts to sign Inter Milan’s Wesley Sneijder and Samir Nasri, who rejected United in favour of a move from Arsenal to Manchester City.

Although Gaitán has largely been deployed as a left-sided winger by Benfica in recent months, the former Boca Juniors player has regularly played in an advanced role behind midfield and attack, a position United have yet to fill following Paul Scholes’s retirement at the end of last season.

Benfica are determined to resist attempts to sign Gaitán, however, and are understood to be keen to retain the player’s services for at least another 18 months.

Meanwhile, United defender Patrice Evra could be forced to wait a further two weeks before discovering the outcome of the Football Association’s investigation into allegations of racist abuse made against Liverpool forward Luis Suárez.

Evra was interviewed by representatives of the FA’s disciplinary unit last Thursday following his claims of racist taunts by Suárez during United’s 1-1 draw at Anfield on Oct 15.

But although the FA was also due to discuss the allegations with Suárez earlier this week, the governing body is not in a position to confirm or deny whether the Uruguayan has yet given his version of events in response to Evra’s claims, which Suárez has strenuously denied.

Due to the highly sensitive nature of Evra’s accusations, both clubs are adhering to an FA request for the matter not be discussed in the public arena while the investigation into the matter continues. But despite an eagerness among all involved parties for the issue to be resolved quickly, it is understood that the FA’s probe could continue beyond next week and into the build-up to the international break on Nov 11.

At that stage, the FA is only likely to have reached its own position on the matter following a detailed and thorough investigation into Evra’s claims.

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has insisted that the Merseyside club are “totally and utterly behind” Suárez following Evra’s allegations, which were registered formally to referee Andre Marriner at the end of the Premier League fixture at Anfield.

Although Evra claimed in an interview with the French broadcaster Canal Plus that Suárez racially insulted him “at least 10 times” during the Liverpool game, the 30 year-old will be expected to provide secondary evidence, such as witness statements or television footage, to support his accusation.

United return to Merseyside tomorrow to face Everton, but must cope without winger Ashley Young, who is set to miss the game due to a toe injury.

United are awaiting the results of a scan on Young’s injury, but he is considered unlikely to feature at Goodison Park. He is also a doubt for England’s friendlies against Spain and Holland next month.